Mechanical pencil



June 24, 1958 c. ANDoNov MECHANICAL PENCIL Filed June 11, 1952 lll lll/l/Illll Il MII United States Patent O MECHANICAL PENCIL Christ Andonov,Gary, Ind.

Application June 11, 1952, Serial No. 292,886

2 Claims. (Cl. 1Z0-143) This invention relates to pencils of thepropel-repel type wherein a graphitc writing material is caused toadvance or retract upon the operation of a hand knob.

More particularly, this invention contemplates the provision of amultiple-lead pencil in which four different colors of writing materialare available for use in a single pencil housing. There are at presentseveral commercial embodiments of such a plural-lead pencil available onthe market. However, these are generally quite expensive and suffer thedisadvantage that the lead is propelled iu an axis not parallel with theaxis of the pencil which causes some discomfort and a tendency for thepencil to pivot in the writers hand as the lead becomes worn. A

further limitation generally present in such plural-leadpencils is thatthe leads are ejected by a manual sliding type plunger which does notallow a generally infinite adjustment of the lead length. Yet anotherdisadvantage often found in the present commercial embodiments is siveautomatic pencil whichmay be completely controlled.

through the manipulation of a single knob at the upper end of theinstrument.

It is an object of this invention, therefore, to provide a novel pencilwhich allows the use of a different colors of lead.

A further object of this invention is to provide a multi-colored leadpencil that requires no manipulation other than that available from thethumb and fore-v nger.

Yet another object of this invention is to- Vprovide a,

multi-lead pencil which permits thewriting lead to be expelled parallelto the axis of the pencil.

Still a further object of this invention is 'the provision of amulti-lead pencil wherein the writing material rn'ay be expelled andretracted bythe mere rotation ofa ycontrol knob conveniently placed atthe instrument. f l

A further feature of the present invention is the proviplurality ofupperV end'l of` the Y Y6o sion of a multi-lead writing pencil whichcomprises an plural lead writing instrument in which the variouscomponent parts are not dependent upon ratchets or other detentarrangements generally found unsatisfactory from the point of view ofdurability.

Other objects and features of this invention will more fully appear fromthe following detailed description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings which illustrate a single embodiment thereof.

On the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side view of the pencil of my invention in its assembledcondition; Y

Figure 2 is an expanded cross-sectional view of my pencil as shown inFigure 1, and taken along the lines lI-II of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the pencil shown in Figure 1 andis identical to the construction shown in Figure 2 except that theworking parts are in the colorchanging position;

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines IV-IV of Figure2, and discloses the construction utilized in the propelling andrepelling of the writing leads; and

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines Vv-V of Figure3, and shows the general arrangement of the clutching mechanism utilizedfor operation of the desired lead.

As shown on the drawings:

As shown in Figure l, the pencil of my invention coml prises generally apencil having a housing portion 1,V a

generally conical point 2 and an operating knob 3. A'

graphitc writing lead or other suitable cylindrical writing material ispropelled, as indicated at V4, from the tip 2."

As may be more clearly seen in Figure 2, the tip 2 is offset from thelongitudinal axis of the pencil bodyV as a whole in order that my novelindexing mechanism generally discussedbelow may be utilized. As furtherVseen from this view the housing portion V1 interconnects with the tip 2.This connectionv may be threaded, or any other type of suitable rigidconnection such as Vpress t, glue, or soldering.

A'n indexing head or member 5 is rotatably mounted Within the housingbarrel 1 and comprises a cylindricaly member having a plurality of axialbores 6. y It is to be understood, of course, that any number of suchbores could be utilized, and that the num-ber arbitrarily chosen as 4 inthe present application is merely indicative of the general arrangement.

other permanent means.

resilient spring 11 is positioned between this head and the bearing' 9.U

- ing element 13 is iixedly placed. As may be seen from indexingarrangement wherein the colors, or writing leads,

not in use are rendered completely inoperative andare fully enclosed ina position wherein no soiling or other Y injury may occur to the writeror his clothes.

Still a further feature of this invention is the provision -70 A furtherobject of the present Vinvention is the profortable position for writingand prevents any rotation of the pencil in the writers hand.

vision of an extremely durablevand ruggedly constructed the showing inFigure 5, vthis clutching element has a generally cylindrical exteriorsurface and a polygonal interior surface. While the clutching member 13is vdisclosed as having a cylindrical exterior surface it isconvtemplated that in heavy duty installations the exterior4 surfacecould be serrated to provide amore positive grip between the surface ofthe member lvand the bore of j the indexing head 5.

The cap 3 is provided with a pin 14 having a round .head 15 thereon. `Areduced diameter portion indicated at *16 is Vof. a polygonalcross-section which conforms to the cross-section of the interiorsurface of the clutching member 13 to Vprovide a rotary drive connectionbetween the cap 3 and the indexing head member 5 when the portions 16and 13 are erigagedl A spring 17 is positioned The indexing head isrigidly Vsecured to a pin 7 by means of an embedded head 8 or'v The pin7 is in turn rpassed" through a bearing 9 which isAsemi-permanently xedto'the tip 2, preferably by means of a very tight press tit.` AVV vhead10 is formed o n the right hand end of pin 7 anda] between the head 15andthe clutch member 13 and tends to maintain the head 15 at the lowerdisengaged position in the bore 12. In the assembly of the device thestern 14 ,is placed `in-the 'borerrwith the head 15 at 'the lowerportion of the bore 12, the spring-17 andmember 1.3 are insertedY aroundthe stem 14 and the clutching member 13 is then pressed into therbore 12in a tight-tit.A This clutch membermay be soldered orglued,dependingaupon the materials utilized in the pencil, or may be otherwiseixedly securedas above suggested. `The cap .3 is then forced upon theend ofthe stem y14. in a secure position.

Into each of the bores 6 a Icommercially standard pencilpropel-repelmechanism is inserted. These mechanisms are maintained in position inthe tubes by means ofthe roughened 4or knurled surfaces 18. :Each of thepropel-repelmechanisms comprises a lead carrying tube 19 surrounded by ahelical strip 20. Each of the tubes 19.is slitfrom end to end inside ofthe helical strip and a `.generally well known lead carrying memberhaving projections 21 is reciprocably mounted within the tube. Theprojections 21 cooperate with the edges of thestrips 20 to reciprocatethe lead upon rotation of the tube 19 with respect tothe helical strip20. The helical strip 2t) is tixedly secured to the roughened member 13and is thereby fixed securely to the indexing head 5.

Inorder to produce relative rotation between the tube 19 andthe helicalstrip 2i? the tube is squared at its upper end as indicated at `22 andas clearly indicated in .Figure 5. The squared clutch Vportion 22cooperates with an actuating means in the form of a gear 23 which issupported for rotation about its own axis by a yoke support fixed to thehousing 1 as indicated at 24 and as clearly Vshown in Figure 4. The gear23 has an annular groove 25 formed in its exterior surface, and teeth26are machined into the root of the groove. T he teeth 26 cooperate with aring gear 27 which is integral with cr firmly axed to the cap 3. Thesides of the groove 25 in the rgear member 23 cooperate with the sidesof the ring gear 27 to maintain the gear 23 in a fixed axial posif tionrelative to the cap 3.

At the tip `end of the pencil the tubes 19 are arranged to align withdepression 29 in the tip 2. This arrangement positively retains theindexing head in its yadjusted angular position with one of the tubes19.,facing the lead aperture `30.v

The operation of the invention may Vbe clearly seen from `aconsideration of Figures 2 and 3. In Figure 2, the .pencilis shown inits operative condition with the lead 4 from one of the tubes 19projected into aposition of use. In this position it will be noted thatthe gear 23 is in .engagement with the square clutch` portion 22 of thetube 19, thereby connecting the tube for simultaneous rotative movement.Since the gear 23 is maintained in axial alignmentwith the tube 19,which is aligned with the lead aperture 30 by means of the yoke 24,`rotation of the cap 3 will cause the gear 23 to rotate in thesame'direction as the cap. This rotation will cause relative movementbetween the tube 19 and the .fixed spiral Strip 20 thereby causingreciprocation of the lead V propelling members 21 which in turn causesthe lead 4 to beexpelled through the aperture a bore'30. Y It s notedthat in the position shown in Figure`2'th four tubes 19 are maintainedin the recesses 29 by spring 11, thereby preventing rotation between theindexing head 5 and the tip V2. When it is desired to change colors 'ordifferent leads it'isnecessary to rotate the indexinghead 5.until adifferent tube 19 is in `alignment with theslead aperture 30. This isdone by pulling the knob 3 up wardly and then rotating it 90 until a newtube 19 is in axial alignment with the opening 30. As is .shown-inportion 22 becomes disengaged from the gear member .4 tated in eitherdirection. Since the square chuck portion 16 is now located within thepolygonal cavity in the chuck member 13, the rotational movement giventhe cap 3 will be imparted to the-chuck member 13 and from thence to theindexing head 5. Upon arrival of the desired lead carrying tube 19 to aposition in alignment with the lead aperture 30, the cap is released.When released, the spring 11 forces the tubes 19 into the recesses 29and the spring 17 forces the cap 3 downwardly so that the gear member 23is in driverelation with the square clutch portion 22 of the tube 19which is in alignment with the lead dispensing aperture 30. With theparts in this position rotation of the cap 3 will, as above stated,cause the lead to be propelled from the tube 19 into the aperture 30 andoutwardly into operative position. Itis, of course noted that inoperation it is necessary to retract the individual leads 4 back intothe tubes 19 in order to rotate the `indexing head 5 without damage tothe leads.

From the above description it will be readily apparent that the presentinvention provides a substantially improved multiple-color writinginstrument utilizing a sim ple, extremely durable and very compactmechanism which requires no rditicult manipulation with the lingernailsin its operation.

It willbe understood that modifications and variations may be electedwithout departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the presentinvention.

Iclaim as my invention:

l. In combination in a multilead pencil, a tubular housing, anfolset tipxedly secured tosaid housing, an index member coaxially rotatablymounted within said housing, said index member having a plurality ofbores peripherally spaced about the rotational axis of said index memberat 'the same radial distance from the central axis of Asaid housing,said tip having an axial bore positioned the same distance from the saidcentral axis as the said plurality of bores, a lead propel-repelmechanism in each of said bores and having a clutch member and operableupon rotation of said clutch member to reciprocate a'lead securedtherein, a cap reciprocably and rotatably carried kby 'said housing,actuating means in said cap reciprocable therewith and rotatablerelative thereto for operative engagement with the clutch member of a 7oFigure 3 when the cap 3 is moved upwardly the squared 23 and the tubes19 become disengaged from the recesses selected one of said vmechanismsin alignment with the bore in said 4tip when said cap is reciprocatedtoward said tip into a rst positon, means locking said index memberagainst rotation relative to said housing when said cap is Vin Vsaidtirstposition, means on said housing for cooperation with said actuatingmeans to maintain said actuating means in axial alignment with the boreof said tip, cooperating gear teeth on the external periphery of p saidactuating means and the internal periphery of said cap whereby rotationof said cap will rotate said actuating means to rotate said clutchmember when said cap is in saidtirst position and said actuating meansis in engagement with said clutch member, and means connecting said pcap to said index member for rotation thereof to change thefselectedmechanism'in alignment with the bore of saidL-tipfsaid lastnamed meansbeing operable only when said capis moved away from said tip into asccond positon in which actuating means is out of engagement with saidclutch member. Y

'.2. In combination in a multilead pencil, a tubular housing, an offsettip iixedly secured to said housing, anV

index member coaxially rotatably mounted within said housing, said indexmember having a plurality of bores peripherally spaced about therotational axis of said'index member at the same radial distance fromthe central axis .of'said housing, said tip having an axial borepositioned the same distance from the said central axis as the saidplurality of bores, atlead propel-repel mechanism in each of said boresand having a clutch member and oper- `able upon rotation of said clutchmember to reciprocate ajleadlsecured therein, a cap reciprocably androtatably carried by said housing, actuating means in said cap re-Aciprocable therewith and rotatable relative thereto for operativeengagement with the clutch member of a selected one of said mechanismsin alignment with the bore in said tip when said cap is reeiprocatedtoward said tip into a rst position, means locking said index memberagainst rotation relative to said housing when said cap is in said firstposition, means connecting said cap to said locking means for unlockingsaid index member v when said cap is reciprocated away from said tipinto a second position in which said actuating means is out ofengagement with said one mechanism, gear means on the periphery of saidactuating means for cooperation with gear means on the internal surfaceof said cap rotating` y new, 6 anism in alignment with the bore of saidtip, said last named means being operable only when said tip is in saidsecond position in which said locking means is disconnected and in whichsaid actuating means is out of engagement with said clutch member.

References Cited in the le of this patent Y UNITED STATES PATENTS876,223 Newma et a1. Jan. 7, 190sv 1,789,760 Kiedrowski Ian. 30, 19311,858,881 Caruana May 17, 1932. 1,917,144 Morris-s July 4, 19332,123,810 Severin July 12, 1938 2,690,738 Andanov Oct. 5, 1954 FOREIGNPATENTS 615,295 Great Britain Ian. 4, 1949

